Expert: Superdome outage due to device malfunction Expert: Superdome outage due to device malfunction ADVERTISING NEW ORLEANS — A partial power outage during this year’s Super Bowl occurred because a relay device with a design defect malfunctioned, an outside expert
Expert: Superdome outage due to device malfunction
NEW ORLEANS — A partial power outage during this year’s Super Bowl occurred because a relay device with a design defect malfunctioned, an outside expert confirmed Thursday.
Entergy, which supplies electricity to the Superdome, and the stadium’s management company hired forensic engineer John Palmer to perform an independent analysis of the Feb. 3 outage. Palmer is president of Palmer Engineering & Forensics in Kaysville, Utah.
Entergy has said it believed the outage was caused by an electrical relay device that it installed specifically to prevent a power failure at the dome.
Palmer’s report says the primary cause of the disruption was a malfunction or “misoperation” of the relay.
The report also notes the relay had a design defect, and under testing it did not perform entirely as its instruction manual said it was supposed to. It says the factory default setting of the relay was inappropriate. Finally, it says there was “inadequate communication between the manufacturer and the utility.”
Battery, stalking charges for ex-tennis star Capriati
NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former tennis star Jennifer Capriati has been charged after police said she punched her ex-boyfriend on Valentine’s Day while he was working out at a gym.
Palm Beach County court records show Capriati was charged by prosecutors Wednesday. She has been issued a summons to appear before a judge April 17 on stalking and battery charges, though she has not been arrested. No attorney for Capriati was listed.
North Palm Beach police say Ivan Brannan was working out when the 36-year-old Capriati approached him and yelled at him. Brannan told police that he tried to get away by walking to the men’s locker room, but Capriati blocked his path and punched him in the chest.
Brannan told police he and Capriati broke up in 2012 and that she has harassed and stalked him since then.
Jeter to only play exhibition games in minors
TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says shortstop Derek Jeter will play only in minor league spring training games for the rest of spring training.
The move could cut short how much time Jeter would miss if he starts the season on the 15-day disabled list. By not playing in major league exhibitions, the Yankees want to be able to adjust Jeter’s start time on the DL if that’s necessary.
“I think we need the ability to preserve to back date him in the event that’s he not going make it,” Cashman said.
Jeter missed his third straight exhibition game Thursday because of inflammation in his surgically repaired left ankle. He expects to resume baseball activities on Friday.
“I wouldn’t call it a setback,” Jeter said. “We’re not talking about my ankle right now. We’re talking about normal soreness that comes after you have surgery. So, I’m not concerned at all about my ankle.”
Mets make Wright the fourth captain in team history
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — As the newly appointed team leader, David Wright has already made his first decision: He won’t wear the captain’s ‘C’ on his New York Mets jersey.
“I don’t necessarily like to stick out too much,” Wright said Thursday. “I think the uniform is uniform for a reason. I think that everybody is kind of in agreement that we’re going to do without.”
The Mets officially made Wright the fourth captain in team history. The third baseman joined Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter and John Franco as Mets to be appointed captain — Franco was the last player to hold the honor in 2004.
“This is probably one of the proudest days of my career so far,” Wright said. “I think to be viewed in this light both by ownership, by Sandy and the front office, by the coaching staff and probably most importantly by the players, is a great deal to me.”
The Mets made another announcement, too, saying Jonathon Niese would be their pitcher on opening day.
Giants re-sign David Carr to back up Eli Manning
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants don’t have to worry about finding a backup for quarterback Eli Manning.
On Thursday, they announced they have re-signed David Carr, who was a free agent. The 2002 No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft has been Manning’s backup in four of the last five seasons.
The backup role is somewhat ceremonial for the Giants. Manning has started 135 consecutive regular-season games, a run that started in the second half of the 2004 season.
Carr, who played in San Francisco in 2010, has played in 11 games for the Giants. He has completed 32 of 48 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns.
Julia Mancuso races to record 16th U.S. title
SQUAW VALLEY, Calif. — Julia Mancuso raced to her record 16th title in the U.S. Alpine Championships, winning the giant slalom Thursday in her hometown.
The Olympic gold medalist beat World Cup slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin by 0.88 seconds in the opening event in the four-day competition at the 1960 Olympic mountain.
The 18-year-old Shiffrin, from Vail, Colo., won the World Cup slalom title last week in Switzerland. Megan McJames, from Park City, Utah, was third in the race that was shortened from the planned start because of inconsistent snow after heavy snowfall Wednesday.
Bills’ 10-year lease approved by county lawmakers
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills’ 10-year, $271 million lease agreement has received unanimous approval from Erie County lawmakers.
The vote, taken Thursday, comes days after NFL owners approved the terms and condition of the agreement the Bills reached in December with county and New York State officials. The final step for the deal to take effect is approval from state lawmakers, which the Bills anticipate to happen soon.
The lease includes $130 million in renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium, which are scheduled to begin this year.
State and county taxpayers would be on the hook for $226.8 million over the 10-year period.
Jaguars sign wide receiver Jordan Shipley
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed Jordan Shipley, potentially giving the team a slot receiver this fall.
Shipley played in the final six games for Jacksonville last season. He finished with 23 receptions for 244 yards. He had a career-high seven catches for 51 yards against the Titans.
A third-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2010, Shipley has 79 career receptions for 858 yards and four touchdowns. He saw action in one game with Tampa Bay last year before being waived Sept. 25.
The former Texas standout suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the 2011 season. As a rookie with the Bengals in 2010, he had 52 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns.
The Jaguars are looking for a slot receiver after parting ways with Laurent Robinson.
From wire sources
